Forgotten man Andy Halliday has been challenged to kick-start his Boro career by hitting top form for the Under-21s.

The 22-year-old was signed by Gordon Strachan in 2010 and has made more than 30 appearances for Boro as a left-back and left-winger.

However, following loan spells at Walsall and most recently Blackpool last season, Halliday now finds himself on the fringes of Boro’s first-team picture and has started in all five Under-21s matches this season.

Having put in a string of impressive performances for Boro’s young guns, Under-21s manager Paul Jenkins has challenged the Scot to add further consistency to his game - with the view to clinching a loan move away from the Riverside.

Jenkins said: “In the Under-21s we’ve set out our stall and said that players have to earn the right to have the shirt and to keep the shirt.

“Then sometimes the manager could have players in his first-team squad who need a game or are not featuring.

“Andy is one example of that. I must compliment Andy because he’s obviously found it difficult not being around the first-team on a match day, but his application and the way he’s approached his game has been an absolute credit to the club.

“Hopefully Andy’s challenge will now be to get himself out on loan at some point.

“The only way he can do that is by performing in the Under-21s, and he has done that so far this season. I can only commend him for that.”

Halliday put in another impressive performance during Boro Under-21’s 2-0 win against West Brom on Monday and helped his team charge to the top of the league following a fourth successive win.

But his future on Teesside remains uncertain with his contract due to expire next summer.